Elucidation of physiological function of free N-glycans and application of the physiological function to development of biotechnology to control the plant development and growth

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05959
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38060:Applied molecular and cellular biology-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Kimura Yoshinobu 岡山大学, 環境生命自然科学研究科, 特命教授 (70195387)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 遊離N-グリカン / 糖鎖機能 / 植物糖タンパク質 / ENGase / 酸性PNGase / 中性 PNGase

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Free N-glycans (FNGs) are present in plant tissues during differentiation and growth at micro M concentrations. There are two types of FNGs: FNGs generated from misfolded glycoproteins during endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation and FNGs generated during degradation of functionally dysfunctional glycoproteins. In this project, we aimed to (1) demonstrate the physiological functions of FNGs in plant differentiation and growth, and (2) develop technologies to apply FNG functions to plant growth control. We also attempted to identify lectin-like receptor kinases and cytoplasmic/nuclear lectins with an affinity for FNGs.

Free Research Field

糖鎖生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物細胞内あるいは細胞外空間に存在が確認されている遊離N-グリカン(FNGs) の生物学的意義，あるいは生理機能に注目して研究展開を行っている例は殆どない。申請者は これまでに，分化成長中の植物にμモル濃度でFNGs が存在することを見いだし，それらFNGsの構造特性解析や FNGs 生成酵素の機能特性，遺伝子発現解析等を通して，植物の分化成長に関わるFNGs の生理機能を想定・提唱し，それらの機能解明を目指した研究を展開してきた。FNGs の機能解明を目指す研究そのものに学術的独自性と創造性があり，それらの潜在機能を植物生長の制御技術開発に応用展開することは社会的意義にも繋がると考える。